The wait has been long and now both clubs might seem to be on level terms in the Manchester City vs Manchester United live stream happening in the Barclays Premier League. It is an uncommon sight to witness the two clubs close to each other in both quality and results. Manchester City are better known to be the poorer relations of United as they tend to struggle on the pitch despite having the greater local support. The “willing sufferers” is a term often used to describe the club’s fans. This arises from the club professing great ambitions every season but failing to achieve them in any way whatsoever. That might be a thing of the past soon. The riches the club has savoured since the arrival of a new Middle Eastern owner has powered a drive near the summit of the league engineered by a host of marquee signings. Manchester City are now able to afford any player. The only obstacle they face is in getting the top players to sign for them since City have yet to prove themselves capable of winning the top honours in football. City are convinced that once they qualify for the Champions League, the floodgates to success will open with players queueing up to sign for them.

To say that the Red Devils are about to slip into the shadow of their neighbours would be an overstatement as of now. Manchester United are still the undisputed kings of English football in the last twenty years. What a club achieved in the past and their background will always be cast in stone. It also cannot allow one to ignore the noticeable lack of progress that United have shown in the past year. Players who have delivered success to the club over the years are showing their age. Young players that have been brought in by Sir Alex Ferguson, save a few individuals like Wayne Rooney, have largely failed to deliver, or are not up to the mark in general. The swashbuckling pacy attacking football that was the hallmark of Sir Alex Ferguson’s old United teams has given way to modern practical football designed not to lose. All this have have contributed to a less dominant Manchester United and allowing the Premier League title race to be open again to other teams.

There will be plenty of subplots woven in as the two clubs meet for the 159th time in the Manchester derby. One of the chief protagonists will be Argentinian international striker Carlos Tevez. Manchester United fans will still have fond memories of Tevez playing for the Red Devils just last season. A lengthy transfer discussion was the subjected of contention between the player and club before his offer to United to buy him for over 20 million pounds was turned down. The Argentinian signed for City and has enjoyed a great season ever since, scoring 20 goals and making United’s decision look like a moment of folly. In order to soothe his ego, Tevez has been determined to show Ferguson that he was wrong to undervalue him in public. There will also be some focus on Wayne Rooney as the striker returns from injury to play for Manchester United. Since his enforced absence through an ankle injury, the club has looked inferior in every aspect. With the Premier League title race coming down to the wire, his presence will be needed more than ever regardless of the club now recognised as a one-man team.

While Manchester City are setting their sights on finishing with a place in the Champions League, Manchester United are hoping to win their fourth title in as many seasons. A place in the Champions League cannot be underestimated in the grand scheme of things for Manchester City. Qualification itself is bound to attract bigger marquee signings which they can easily afford. That is exactly the kind of scenario the City club owner envisioned when he pursued success by splashing the cash at the start. United will be scrambling for a place in the history books with the target they have set themselves this season in becoming the most decorated club in English football. They have shared that tag along with Liverpool for the past year after last season’s title win left both clubs with 18 domestic championships each to their name. One more title this season would mean Manchester United moving clear in the annals of history, something that they have been working on for the better half of a century.